Stocking



(ModeL) '2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

- P. GLOU-TON.

STOCKING.

No. 532,196. Patented Jan. '8, 1895.

Fig.2.

WITNESSES dizm/fm #TTOR/VEY ms NORRIS versus 00. mumumo" WASHINGTON, Dvc.

(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P.-GL.OUTON.

STOGKING I Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

Fig-.5

WITNESSES 3 W #TTORNEX UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL GLOUTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STOCKING.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,196, datedJanuary 8, 1895.

Application filed July 31,1894. Serial No. 519,112. tModel.)

- fication.

In the manufacture of seamless stockings as heretofore carried on it hasbeen found difficult to shape the stocking to conform to the foot of thewearer, and to give the requisite strength to the parts subject tothegreatest strain and wear. The shape has usually been obtained bystretching on wooden forms, or by knitting in gussets bythe use ofspecial machinery or using short rows of stitches. The former of thesemethods results in weakening the fabric at the point where greateststrength is required, and is open to the further objection that theshape is soon lost through wear and washing; while the latter methodnecessitates the use of special machinery or running in short rows orcourses of stitches and connecting their ends, at considerableinconvenience, without increasing the strength of the enlarged part toresist excessive wear.

In the operation of knitting ribbed stockings, it has been usual to knitthe leg on one machine and then transfer to another machine to completethe operation. I am not aware that a ribbed stocking, seamless exceptingat the toe, has ever been knit on a single machine in the shape of thehuman foot.

The objects of my invention are, first, to knit a stocking, seamlessexcepting at the toe, and more particularly a stocking ribbed throughoutits entire length, which will conform in shape to the human foot;second, to

.reinforce the parts subject to greatest wear and strain, and, third, toavoid the use of short rows or courses of stitches, and special gussetforming machinery.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the character of the fabricresulting from my mode of operation, in which- Figure 1 shows a completestocking, ribbed from top to toe, shaped to the wearers foot, andcontaining full courses of stitches only; Fig. 2, a section includingthe heel and instep. Fig. 3 illustrates the plain rib stitch; Fig. 4,the well; stitch; and Fig. 5, the cardigan stitch.

My invention comprehends, first, knitting the stocking foot from the toeto the line cd in welt stitch; second,'continuing from cd to a-b,knitting each course in welt stitch on the left of the line e-fandcontinuing the course in cardigan stitch on the right of this g-hinplain rib stitch.

In forming the welt stitch of the foot and instep all the dial needlesof the machine are pushed out of action every other course or row ofstitches, while in the courses alternating with these allot the needlesare in operation. The fabric resulting is illustrated in Fig. 4, itbeing close and non-elastic, affording the firmness desirable for thispart of the stocking.

In forming the cardigan stitch of the heel, the dial and cylinderneedles are tucked in alternately in forming the alternate courses,producing the fabricillustrated in Fig. 5. The longer stitches and theincreased quantity of yarn thus incorporated in the heel produce thedesired shape and greater strength.

this point of greatest wear.

In formingthe plain ribstitch of the ankle and leg, both the dial andcylinder needles are continuously in action, producing the fabricillustrated in Fig. 3.

The manner of forming the stitches de scribed is well known to knittersand a more detailed description is unnecessaay to the understanding ofthose skilled in the art. thus changing the character of the stitch toproduce the structure desired for the several parts of the fabric astocking'may be formed containing only full courses of stitches andseamless excepting when the opening of the toe is closed.

An examination of any row or course of stitches in Fig. 2, as the course1-2, will show that the courses are free and continuous, no short rowsbeing used to produce the bulge. The stitches on the left of the line eare short to indicate the close welt stitch, while the stitches on theright are long to indicate the change from welt to cardigan stitch. The

laid threads incorporated in the heel.

I find that by knitting the stocking from the toe upward the tendency toravel is re- Additional threads maybe laid in to reinforce line e-f,and, third, continuing from a-li to number, 3, designates one of theseries of induced, and with the special stitch used it is foundunnecessary to run the stitches on the needles of thelooping machine, asis usual in closingthe toe, to prevent raveling. In closing the toe Iput the stitches on the looping machine in curved shape to conform tothe foot, form the seam S, and trim the edges.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A stocking having the heel knit in cardigan stitchand the instep knit in welt stitch, for the purpose set forth.

2. Astocking having the heel knit in cardi- PAUL GLOUTON.

Witnesses;

JNo. F. REARDON, CHARLES N. BUTLER.

